The DP World Tour kicks off a two-week run in South Africa as the Opening Swing continues with “Africa’s Major” at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The NGC returns
After not featuring on the 2023 DP World Tour international schedule, the Nedbank Golf Challenge returns for the 10th time as a Tour event.
First staged in 1981 as the Million Dollar Challenge when Johnny Miller beat Seve Ballesteros, it has since evolved into one of the DP World Tour’s most prestigious events.
Ballesteros won it twice and fellow Major champions Raymond Floyd, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Nick Price, Nick Faldo, Corey Pavin, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Trevor Immelman, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett have joined him and Miller on the roll of honour.
Held in honour of the great Gary Player at Gary Player Country Club in South Africa, the event kicks off a fortnight of action in the country ahead of next week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship before the Opening Swing concludes at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
Homa defends
Max Homa claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at this event 13 months ago and he returns to Sun City this week to defend his crown.
The six-time PGA Tour winner became just the fifth American to lift the trophy in 2023 when he held off the challenge of Nicolai Højgaard and Thorbjørn Olesen for an ultimately comfortable four-shot win. He held at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds and while he took just a one-shot advantage into Sunday, a closing 66 saw him pull clear and finish at 19 under.
“It’s been tremendous to get to travel to a new place, meet so many amazing people, the fans have been amazing,” he said. “Everyone has been so welcoming and kind. To come out with a trophy is just a cherry on top.”
Elite field gathers at Sun City
The event is not known as “Africa’s Major” for nothing, with an elite field of DP World Tour, PGA Tour and dual members teeing it up in Sun City alongside high-class invites.
Homa is joined by fellow PGA Tour winners Will Zalatoris, Corey Conners, Mackenzie Huges and Erik van Rooyen and a staggering 48 other players with DP World Tour wins to their name.
Masters champion from 2016, Willett, is also action alongside 2024 Rolex Series winner in Abu Dhabi Paul Waring, who is one of seven players in the field to earn 2025 dual membership via last season’s Race to Dubai.
Add in rising stars Ryan van Velzen, Robin Williams, Aldrich Potgeiter and Wenyi Ding and we could be set for quite a spectacle.
Home heroes hoping to thrill crowds
While 2024 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner Van Velzen, 2022 Amateur Championship winner Potgeiter and rising star Williams may be gaining a reputation in their homeland, they are joined this week by a host of established stars.
Thriston Lawrence went into the 2024 DP World Tour Championship with a chance of winning the Harry Vardon Trophy and will be teeing it up on the PGA Tour next season alongside Van Rooyen and Bezuidenhout after earning dual membership via the Race to Dubai.
Dylan Frittelli re-entered the winner’s circle in 2024 and he plays this event for the first time since 2018, where he is joined by two-time winner in the 2023 season Ockie Strydom and Brandon Stone, who like Frittelli is playing the event for the first time in six years.
Breakout duo hungry for more
They may be named after the greatest rock n roller of them all and a character from a Hollywood mega-franchise but you would be forgiven for having never heard of Elvis Smylie and Ryggs Johnston a fortnight ago.
Now, having each won one of Australia’s premier events to gain full DP World Tour status, they find themselves among starry company in Sun City.
Smylie followed his victory at the BMW Australian PGA Championship with a top 10 at the ISPS Handa Australian Open, which was won by Qualifying School graduate Johnston in just his second DP World Tour start.
The duo have enjoyed dream starts to their seasons but they have a very real chance of ruffling more feathers this week.
– Article from DP World Tour website
Photos: Warren Little/Harry How/Ross Kinnaird/Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
